DETROIT -- The four weeks it took Dan Cleary's separated shoulder to heal did not affect his hands.

He was on a bit of a roll before his injury Dec. 9, with three
goals in five games. He has continued to find the net since returning
to the lineup for the Detroit Red Wings, scoring in each of the past
two games.

The Red Wings, in one of their most impressive performances of the
season, defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-1 Saturday night to wrap up a
tough West Coast trip with a 3-1 record.

Cleary's return gives them
another secondary scoring option -- even more vital now with Tomas
Holmstrom idled for at least three weeks with a broken foot -- and
turns their second line into more of a scoring line than a grinding
line.

"Shoulder felt real good, had some extra padding on it,'' Cleary
said. "I'm not hesitant, that's the one thing I'm glad about. I'm going
to the areas that I have to go to and the shoulder's holding up pretty
good.''

It held up well late in Saturday's game, when Cleary unexpectedly found himself in a tussle with Devin Setoguchi.

"I was a little nervous, wanted to make sure I didn't do any damage to it,'' Cleary said.

He accomplished that by grabbing Setoguchi by the throat and taking him down.

"He wasn't happy,'' Cleary said. "I ran him into the net and he got upset. It was a late hit.''

After a slow start this season, Cleary is gaining confidence.

"It takes some time. The first game (back) you got a lot of
adrenaline,'' Cleary said. "The key is not getting caught out there too
long, and keeping your game simple. For me it's moving my feet, and
when you get the puck, shoot it or pass it and don't try to over handle
it or make a play that's not there.''

Cleary has nine goals in 32 games. The latest, during his team's
three-goal second-period surge Saturday, was set up by Valtteri
Filppula's middle drive.

"He's a real good player for us, we need to get him healthy and
get him rolling,'' coach Mike Babcock said. "When Z (Henrik Zetterberg,
also back from a separated shoulder) and him get skating and playing
the way they can we're going to be a lot better club.''

Helm continues rollDarren Helm scored his fifth goal in the past five games on
Saturday, his second in as many games by taking the puck to the net and
jamming it in.

"That's the kind of goal he's got to score; he's a grinding type
of player and to generate offense that's what he's got to do,'' Babcock
said. "The thing I like about that line (with Kris Draper and Patrick
Eaves) is they put a lot of pressure on the puck.''

With eight goals, Helm has contributed more offense than expected.

"I'm playing a little more of a patient game, not trying to do too
much,'' Helm said. "The puck seems to be going in the net for me.''

Said Babcock: "How high end a player he can become only time will
tell, but he works and competes and gives us energy. He gives us a line
that can play against anyone.''

Quoteable• "We were a pretty good hockey club at one point and then
everyone got hurt and we weren't very good. It took us a long time to
get playing and get comfortable, but guys have found their confidence
and found a way to be successful.'' -- Babcock

• "This is definitely not an easy road trip. We played against
four good teams. It's very satisfying.'' -- goaltender Jimmy Howard